About the Institute Do you know a high school student who wants to see student press freedom signed into law in your state? Are they ready to take on an increased role in the New Voices movement? Tell them to apply now for the NEW VOICES STUDENT LEADERS INSTITUTE, a free, four-day program for students… Continue reading Apply Now: New Voices Student Leaders Institute
Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., No 20-255 B.L. v. Mahanoy is a free expression case on the Supreme Court docket. The case has major implications for public school students across the country. This page is a primer for reporters, students and teachers who want a quick explanation of the case and how it could… Continue reading SPLC’s 5 minute guide to B.L. v. Mahanoy
Every week, Student Press Law Center attorneys answer a frequently asked question about student media law in “Legal Question of the Week.” Q: What exactly is censorship? A: Anytime someone who works for the school prevents or attempts to prevent you from publishing content in your student publication, you’re dealing with censorship. On the college level,… Continue reading What exactly is censorship?
These legal reminders and tips will help you avoid and/or deal with confrontations while covering protests.
As an organization which supports, promotes and defends the First Amendment and freedom of expression rights of student journalists in the United States, the Student Press Law Center unequivocally condemns the raid on the offices of DOXA, a Moscow-based magazine run by student journalists from various universities
This month the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Mahanoy Area School Dist. v. B.L., a student speech case that could fundamentally alter how future generations understand the idea of free speech in America. Read SPLC's Amicus Brief Just over 50 years ago the Court handed down a decision in its landmark student speech… Continue reading SPLC urges Supreme Court to limit school authority over off-campus student speech
Feb. 26 marked Student Press Freedom Day 2021: Journalism Against the Odds. Weeks of events, new resources and community building activities culminated on that day with overwhelming nationwide support for a free student press. Students and advisers from all over the country joined together with SPLC and 20 partner organizations. We hope you're feeling energized and inspired, let's… Continue reading People around the country celebrated Student Press Freedom Day 2021. Now, the work continues
NEBRASKA — In September, Jessica Mathieu, a senior at North Platte High School, in southwest Nebraska, stole a Confederate flag from another student’s pickup truck parked in the school parking lot. She posted a video on social media acknowledging that she had stolen the flag, saying, “I know what I did was wrong, but what you’re doing is worse. You’re making people at your school feel like they’re not welcome.”
On Feb. 26, people around the country joined the Student Press Law Center in celebrating Student Press Freedom Day 2021: Journalism Against the Odds. Weeks of events, new resources and community building activities culminated on that day with overwhelming nationwide support for a free student press. This year, we relaunched our annual op-ed campaign calling for pieces… Continue reading National, local and student news outlets around the country run op-eds for Student Press Freedom Day
ILLINOIS — In 2016, Illinois passed the Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act, which protects student journalists at public schools from censorship by their administration. But the language in the law does not protect advisers from retaliation over news stories their students produce. Those protections were initially part of HB 5902, but were stripped from… Continue reading Illinois has a law protecting student press freedom, so why is censorship still happening?
